The Senate Committee on Ethics, Code of Conduct, and Public Petitions has dismissed a sexual harassment petition filed by Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan against Senate President Godswill Akpabio.
During a probe hearing on Wednesday, March 5, Committee Chairman Senator Neda Imasuen ruled that the petition was “dead on arrival,” citing a procedural flaw under Order 40 of the Senate Standing Orders.
According to Imasuen, Akpoti-Uduaghan had signed the petition herself, which made it invalid as it should have been endorsed by another senator.
Imasuen also pointed out that the issues raised in Akpoti-Uduaghan’s petition were already the subject of court proceedings, making the petition subjudice.
“The petition that she (Natasha) presented today is actually dead on arrival; it runs contrary to Order 40, Subsection 4, which states that no senator may present to the Senate a petition signed by him or herself. Since that petition was signed by her, it will not be entertained by this committee,” said Imasuen.
Although the committee’s sitting was scheduled for 2:00 pm, it was delayed until 2:58 pm, as both Akpoti-Uduaghan and Senate spokesman Yemi Adaramodu failed to appear on time.
While Adaramodu arrived at 2:50 pm, Akpoti-Uduaghan was absent from the hearing.
Earlier on Wednesday, March 5, Akpoti-Uduaghan had submitted the sexual harassment petition accusing Akpabio of inappropriate conduct, which she presented during the plenary. Akpabio swiftly denied the allegations, dismissing them as baseless.
“At no time did I ever harass any woman. I was raised very well by my late single mother, and I have always upheld respect for women. I was even awarded the most gender-friendly governor in Nigeria,” Akpabio stated.
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